Authors

Sep 4 Laughter Lines: Andy Hamilton

Award winning comedian and comedy writer Andy Hamilton will be bringing his show Change Management to Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre on October 29.

The show, which is described as containing “Mild Peril” will see Hamilton take a look at how changes have affected him in his 60 year existence, and how to cope with change seen and yet to come. Andy Howells recently put questions to the comedian.

How did you get into comedy?I was doing a revue in a disused Bovril factory and a young radio producer called Geoffrey Perkins saw it and suggested I should write comedy for a living.

You have had notable success as writer of outnumbered and Drop The Dead Donkey among others – what do you find more challenging writing comedy or performing it?Writing is harder than performing – and it takes longer.

One of your big successes was the Radio 4 Comedy series Old Harry’s Game, in which you played a weary version of Satan. What was the inspiration behind it and did you enjoy working in the radio medium?The inspiration behind Old Harry’s Game was my thinking “Wouldn’t it be nice to play a character who is eternal, blessed with superpowers and has plenty to moan about.” Radio is the perfect medium for playing Satan because you don’t have to spend millions on special effects.

Who are your comedy heroes and why?Galton and Simpson. They wrote Hancock’s Half Hour, Steptoe and Son, and they brought the sitcom to the UK.

If you hadn’t become a comedian what would you be?A very bad teacher or a very drunk journalist.

For someone who hasn’t seen Change Management, what can they expect?Laughter – and a story about me getting a dart in my head.

What’s the funniest or most peculiar thing that’s happened to you at a comedy gig?I got stung by a wasp. Everyone found it hilarious.

Have you got any other projects you are working on at the moment that we can look out for in the future?I’ve got a novel out: The Star Witness, published by Unbound. Otherwise. as usual, I’ve got a lot of scripts out there looking for some money to make them.